The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1887-02-03
War on MOrtg,,ges, II,


general attention. Heretofore Little
thought has been given the labor
problem After reconstruction came
what may justly be termed the resto
ration. In establishing order and re-
storing peace, in rearranging the
status Of local governmental short,
in bringing "order out of chaos the
people of Arkansas had task which
required untiring patience and uni
ted lolrof TO accom,plisi The result
is written i'll the progress of the State
in population and prosperity. 1t was
a great work, well done. AT this
juncturo, however, the labor question
comes to the front. 1t overshadows
all others. It's solution will call for
the highest order of craftsmanship
The population Of the State at this
time is probably one million. OF
these at least two hundred aud fifty
thousand are colorcd. Perhaps three
tifths of the male population are laaor
crs. Il is true there are many small
farmers who own from forty to eighty
acres of land, but thcEc, and even the
large planters themselves, are impor-
tant factors in the labor problem.
The credit system is UNIVERSAL The
wealthy planter and the struggling
laborcr arc furnished supplies from
the date the planting season begins
until the crop is gathered. The NOR
chant is then pGi3 off, If the season
is favorable and the crop good he re-
ceives goodly rccompcnse, for he
takes chances and marks his good
accordingly. Very frequently, how
ever. he fails to collect onc-half his
debts. TO be sure he has mort
gage on the crop of the debtor, but if
the crop fails he has no recourse but
to furnish supplies another season,
Trusting the crop may be fruitful
|
the industrial fabric of the State. Tc
depart from ii must revolutionize the
entire labor question.
1t is the mortgage system which is
now uppermost in the minds of tho
people. There is an Outcry against
it. Many of the leading men of the
State antagonize 1t. United States
Judge Cardwcl, III a areccnt speech de
nounced it as the "annconda mort
gage" and, showed conclitsivcly that
it is curse to the State. The Ban
Association c. Arkanaas, which met
here the past week, condemned it
The past two years has been prosper
Gus. The cotton crop was large
The past season was unusually fruit
} full. 1t is estimated that the cotton
yield will reach fully seven hundred
and fifty thousand bales, an increase
of one hundred and fifty thousand
over the crop of last year. I'll this,
has n tendency to produce "!lush
times" at least in the ,tton belt OF
the State. Nevertheless under the
present System it is conceded by the
intclliGcr.C iaborer and planter that
this prosperity has no permanent
foundation. The failure Of next years.
cotton crop will bring want and suf
ftriMH
"Ihc mortgage system must 60
SAID United States Marshal Fletcher
today. eve must do AVA with the
credit business entirely and get down
to n cash basis. 1t will go hard at
first, but once adopted it will be bette,
for us all, white and colorcd alike. II
may take time to overthrow credit,
or it has q strong hold on the labor
ing masses. Yet the tide is now run
] ming against it, and with proper leg
islation and q determined effort on
the part of planter and laborcr tn,
| system can De rooted out and the
State placed on fem financial con
dition. The condition of the laboring
element is a matter of deep concern.
We have big number of whites and
blacks who are entirely dcpcndcntup-
on their labor for livelihood. Under
the mortgage system they are help
less as infants, and in case of repeat
ed failures of the cotton crop great
suffering would fall upon them. II
fact, the entire State would be affect
cd. how, if VIC were working on
cash basis there would be no dangcI
Our laborcrs would make and say
money, and would not be dcpcndcn
| OH any merchant for brcnH So lono